Myosin heavy chain isoforms influence surface EMG parameters: a study of the trapezius muscle in cleaners with and without myalgia and in healthy teachers.

The present study had two aims: (1) to investigate potential differences in proportion of myosin heavy chain isoforms in the trapezius muscle between female cleaners with and without trapezius myalgia and healthy teachers, and (2) to elucidate if myosin heavy chain composition and surface electromyogram (EMG) during an isokinetic endurance test of shoulder flexors are significantly related. The subjects were divided into three groups: (1) 25 female cleaners with diagnosed work-related trapezius myalgia; (2) 25 female cleaners without work-related trapezius myalgia; (3) a control group of 21 healthy female teachers who were not exposed to repetitive or static muscle work. All subjects performed a test involving150 forward flexions using an isokinetic dynamometer. During the test surface EMG was recorded from the trapezius muscle. Muscle samples were obtained from the descending part of the trapezius muscle. The fibre type area percentage based on ATPase staining and the proportions of different MHC isoforms as determined by gel electrophoresis. The trapezius was dominated by MHC I (71%), followed by MHC IIA (22-24%), and MHC IIX (5-7%); no significant differences between the three groups of subjects were found. The proportion of MHC I correlated negatively with MHC IIA ( r=-0.78; P<0.001) and MHC IIX ( r=-0.53; P<0.001). Significant correlations existed between the proportion of the MHC isoforms and the corresponding proportion of the fibre type area; 27-45% of the variance was explained. The multivariate analysis of the three groups of subjects revealed that MHC variables showed intercorrelations with EMG (both amplitude and frequency variables). However, the directions of the relationships differed among the three groups; the cleaners with myalgia and the teachers showed the greatest similarities in patterns. Intrinsic muscle properties appear to influence the frequency content of the EMG, which is in contrast to some of the theoretical models of the EMG. Our data could suggest that monotonous work such as professional cleaning can change the relationships between muscle structure and the frequency content of the EMG.